Is ketamine addictive?

Many drugs with medical uses can be addictive. Ketamine is a drug that doctors have been using during medical procedures for decades. But if people use this drug recreationally, they may become dependent or addicted to it. Learning more about the risk of Ketamine addiction and what steps to take next may help you or a loved one get the treatment you need to overcome addiction. What is Ketamine? Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that the FDA first approved in 1970. Doctors and veterinarians use Ketamine during procedures that require anesthesia, such as major surgery. Recently, doctors have begun to use Ketamine to manage treatment-resistant depression. The medication has proven to be effective when other prescription drugs have failed to provide relief. Medical experts are also exploring the potential to use Ketamine to treat patients’ chronic pain, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. While Ketamine has many known medical uses, the drug has the potential to lead to addiction. Some people take Ketamine recreationally for its euphoric, sedating, and dissociative effects. When sold illicitly, Ketamine is sometimes called: K Special K Vitamin K Jet Cat tranquilizer People may steal Ketamine from veterinary clinics or obtain it from foreign markets to distribute illegally. Ketamine comes in a white or off-white powder–which is made into capsules, snorted, or smoked–and a clear liquid that can be mixed into drinks or injected. People who take Ketamine may experience effects similar to those of PCP, including: Distorted sensory perceptions Feelings of disconnection Relaxation Amnesia Detachment from pain Effects can last from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on how the user takes it and other personal factors....

What Are the 3 Steps to Recovery From Drug Use?

There are a number of methods to recover from substance abuse, and finding the right drug rehab in Denver can be an individual process. While recovery is a personal process, nearly everybody goes through three stages of recovery while overcoming drug use. While there is no set timetable for recovery, the amount of time spent on these stages is unique to each individual, as well. Those stages are abstinence, repair, and growth – and we’ll take a closer look at each of them here. Abstinence This stage begins when the person abusing the substance quits taking that substance. Some of the most important aspects of navigating this phase come down to the individual changing their outlook toward themselves. Doing things like cutting off relationships from other users, developing a regimen of self-care, developing alternatives to the abused substances, and learning how to cope with the cravings. The most difficult aspect of this particular stage is coping with the heavy craving to return to using a particular substance. This presents a number of threats to the individual’s recovery. Depending on the substance being abused, these cravings can last for an extended period of time. This stage is focused on improving the individual’s self-care to set them up for success in the later stages. Repair This is the second stage of recovery, and it’s focused on repairing the damage from the addiction. This is a long-term step, because it deals with everything from repairing self-esteem to relationships to other aspects of the individual’s life. A major hurdle in this stage is dealing with the guilt as some of these relationships are repaired....

Which Treatment is Most Effective in Treating Addiction?

There is no magical treatment that fits every situation when it comes to addiction. Treatments vary depending on the individual’s needs, and what will work best for them based on a number of factors. Treatment plans depend on which substance is being abused, how much care an individual needs, The individual’s mental health, and which options the individual can afford. All of these have an effect on the overall treatment plan, but the good news is that there are a multitude of quality Denver rehab treatment plans out there. Here’s a look at some of the most common addiction treatments out there. Residential Treatment This is one of the more intensive treatments, but these in-patient programs offer a great environment of those dealing with substance abuse and mental health disorders. Residential programs generally run 28 days, and are very individualized. But the treatment doesn’t stop after the 28 days. Along with the residential program, an aftercare plan is also developed, as well as individual goals and continued treatment. During this type of treatment, the individual generally gets numerous individual counseling sessions per week, as well as group therapy multiple times per day. Another benefit of this type of treatment is that these programs offer 24-hour supervision and support. This is extremely important for those struggling with mental health issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy This has been proven to be one of the more effective ways to treat addiction. There are multiple forms of therapy to promote positive change through the use of cognitive techniques. These are generally focused on thought patterns, and working to improve behavior by eliminating harmful thoughts. One...